Intermittent temple-thread cutter for automatic filling-replenishing looms



Q I 4 Jan. 25,1927. EA CUNNIFF 16154 1 INTERMITTENT TEMPLE THREAD CUTTER FOR AUTOMATIC FILLING REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed August 26, 1926 3 Sheets-Shqet 1 Fig.1.

lnvenTor.

Edward A.CunniFF' by/MMh/QWM ATTys.

' E. A. CUNNJFF INTERMITTENT TEMPLE THREAD CUTTER FOR AUTOMATIC FILLING REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed August 26, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvenTor.

Edward A.CunniFF 25 1927' E. A. CUNNIFF INTERMITTENT TEMPLE THREAD CUTTER FOR AUTOMATIC FILLING REPLENISHING LOCKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed August 26, 1926 lnvenTor. Edward ACunniFF MkM byiglmal ATTys.

. pick thereafter.

Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES QE'FICE.

EDWARD A. GUNNIFF. OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COR- PORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

INTERMITTENT TEMPLE-THREAD CUTTER FOR AUTOMATIC FILLING-REPLENISHING LOOMS.

Application filed August 26, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in iuteru'littently operated thread cutting tentples tor looms in which the thread cutting device for parting the thread at the selvage ot the web of cloth is rendered operative only for a short time after filling replenishment has taken place and is retained in inoperative position during the normal operation of the loom.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide means for rendering the thread parting device operative to sever the filling end upon the first pick after transfer and for restoring it to inoperative position after a predetermined number of full cutting movements sufiicient to insure the severance of the filling ends. By thus providing means for rendering the intermittent temple thread cutter operative immediately after transfer takes place the cutter will ordinarily sever the filling ends upon the first By permitting a predetermined number of actions of the parting mechanism thereafter the severance of the filling ends istully insured.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this character which is rendered operative by the movement of the switcl'i-cam which operates the shuttle feeler thread cutter during the movement of the cam which is caused by the shuttle teeler during its return to normal position after transfer has been effected. By reason of this construction a simple mechanism for releasing the thread cutting device may be employed and one which is easily embodied in a usual type of loom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of intermittent thread cutting device which can be mounted upon a usual temple head without material modilication of the temple thread cutting mecha nism and which will operate with certainty to sever the filling end. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel controlling mechanism for the temple thread cutter which will instantly release the thread cutter trom inoperative position and which will positively lock the releasing mechanism in released position until the completion of a predetermined number of full reciprocations of the temple thread cutter. By reason of this construction the cutter is permitted a full cutting movement Serial No. 131,579.

upon each reciprocation instead of progressively restricted cutting movements produced during the restoration of usual types of intermittent temple thread cutters to inoperative position.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as applied to the well known Northrop type of loom, only so much of the loom being illustrated as is necessary to show the relation 01' the present invention thereto.

In the drawings:

Fig.1 is a view, partially in vertical cross section. viewed from the inside of the loom toward the replenishing side thereof. and illustrating the shuttle teeler, the shuttle teeler thread cutter, the switch cam for actuating the latter and the mechanism operated thereby to release the intermittent temple thread cutter;

. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing a loom temple mounted upon the loom frame and having an intermittently operable thread cutter embodying the present invention. the thread cutter being held in inoperative position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the position of the parts of the temple thread cutter when in operative position;

Fig. 4 is a plan view in detail form showing the relative positions of the intermittently operable temple thread cutter and the mechanism for releasing the same which is actuated by the movement of the switch cam which operates the shuttle feeler threat d cutter;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view 0 the timing device;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing a portion of the detent-releasing lever in engagement with the timing device and holding it against rotation to locking position; and,

F 7 is a similar detail view showing the position of the detent-releasing lever and the trimmer in which it is locked by the tim ing device; and,

8 is a detail view of the switch cam and its stop.

The part 01" the loom illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a usual loom side 1, and breast beam 2 upon which is mounted the battery 3 having the transferrer l; pivotally mounted therein for transferring the bobbin 5 to the shuttle (3 carried by the lay 7. These parts may be and are usual in loom structures and need not be further described. The usual controller rod 8 is mounted upon the bracket 9 depending from the breast beam and he an arm 10 for actuating the usual shuttle feeler. The shuttle feeler as illustrated comprises the usual curved arm 11 which is pivotally mounted upon a stud 1,2 projecting from the bracket 13 upon the loom side. An arm l l. extending from the shuttle feeler 11 beyond the loom side. provided with a slotted end portion 15 which is engaged by a stud 16 upon the usual dagger 17 which is pivotally carried by the depending arm of the transferrer land is adapted, upon call for transfer to rotate the dagger into position to be engaged by the hunter 18 carried by the lay when the shuttle feeler is moved to feeling position.

The usual shuttle feeler thread cutter, which is mounted upon the shuttle feeler, comprises a pair of stationary blades 19 which are connected together by a pin 20 and an intermediate movable cutting blade 21 which is rotatable about a stud or screw 22 which is mounted in the shuttle feeler arm 1.1. The end of the movable blade is provided with a downwardly extending heel adapted, when the shuttle feeler is in feeling position, to be engaged by the lay upon its beat-up and thereby actuate the movable cutting blade. The blades of the shuttle feeler thread cutter are held frictionally in engagement by a spring washer 24: which causes the blades to clamp the tilling end after its severance. The movable cutting blade is moved to open position during the movement of the feeler to feeling position by the engagementof a stud 25 which projects from the root of the heel portion 21 into the path of the inclined edge 26 of a switch cam which is fixedly secured to a rod 52? rotatably mounted in a post 28 which is mounted upon the bracl-cct 12). The rod 2'? is provided with a collar 29 which is fixedly secured to one end of a heli al spring 30. the opposite end of which is connected to the post 528. The rod 2? acts to maintain the switch cam in the position illustrated in Fig. l with a stop 31 upon said switch cam in engagement with a suitable abutment 32 upon the post 28.

In the operation of the machine the controller rod 8 is rocked upon call for transfer and acts through the arm 10 to more the shuttle feeler into feeling position. As it approaches feeling position the stud 25 engages the inclined face of the switch cam 26 and depressed thereby thus moving the blade of the shuttle feeler to open posi tion. i ls the lay heats up the heel 23 of the movable blade is engaged by it and moved to closed position to engage and sever the filling leading from the outgoing); lilling carrier. As the shuttle feeler is restored to normal. position after transfer the pin 25 engages the vertical rear face 33 of the switch cam, thus rocking the switch cam forwardly against the action of its spring until the stud 25 passes beneath the end of the switch cam. .vhereupon the spring 27 rcstores the switch cam to normal position. The mechanism thus described is that of the usual shuttle feeler thread cutter.

In the present invention this movement is ei'i'iployed to release the intern'iittenttemple thread cutter from inoperative position. This is accon'iplished by extending the rod 27 to which the switch cam is secured and offsetting the rod to present an arm 34, which overlies a device for releasingthe temple thread cutter from inoperative position. When. therefore, the switch cam 26 is moved by the shuttle fccler during its restoration to normal position. after transfer, the arm 3% of the rod 27 will be depressed and will actuate the releasing device so that the temple thread parting mechanism will. be placed in its operative position.

Any suitable intermittently operated thread parting mechanism may be employed which is adapted to be released from inoperative position to operative pos tion by the action of the Switch cam above described.

The present invention also comprises a novel form of intermittently operable temple thread cutting mechanism. This mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 as applied to a usual temple head '35 having a slide bar oz; reciprocably mounted in a stand 37 which is supported by a suitable bracket 38 upon the breast beam of the loom. The temple thread cutter may be of a usual type having a stationary cutting blade 39 and a co-o icratiiu longitudinally and pivotally movable blade *l-t) provided with a hook-sl apcd end to cooperate with the stationary blade. lhc movable blade all) is provided with a dome wardly extending heel ll iulapted, when the cutter is in operative io:i-.itiou. to lie in tin path of the lay and to be eiu 'aged therebv upon the beat-up of the lay to actuate the cutter. The cutter is urged toward opcrative position by the usual spring 42 which is n'iounted upon a stud upon the temple head and also engages a stud 4:3 projecting laterally from the heel 41 of the cutter.

In the prsent construction the heel ll of the cutter is provided with a rearward ere tension l'iaving an upwardly bent end presenting a shoulder which when engaged by a suitable detent will retain the cutter in retracted and inoperative position as ill) luv

illustrated in Fig. 2 and the heel of the cutter out of the field of movement of the lay so that the cutter will not be operated during the normal operation of the loom. In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated herein the cutter is held in inoperative position by a detent which is pivotally mounted upon a stud 4L6 intermediate of its ends and is provided with a notched end 47 to engage the shoulder 44;. upon the heel of the movable cutter. A helical spring 48 connected to the opposite end portion of the detent and to the loom temple serves to urge the detent into engagen'ient with the shoulder as of the heel of the cutter.

The present invention comprises mecha nism for releasing the detent from engagement with the cutter which can be readily mounted upon the usual type of loom temple. As illustrated herein this mechanism comprises a plate l9 adapted to be secured to the side of the temple and. which carries a detent-releasing device and also a timing and locking mechanism adapted to, retain the detent in released position during a predetermined number of reciprocations of the cntt er, together with means operable by the cutter to rotate the timing device upon the completion of a predetermined number of reciprocations into a position which will unlock the detent and permit it again to engage the shoulder upon the heel of the cutter.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated herein a detent-releasing lever 50 is pivotally mounted upon a stud 51 extending from the plate 49. The main arm of the detent-releasing lever is provided with an. offset end 52 which overlies and is adapted to engage the free end portion 53 of the detent lever 45. The detent-releasing lever 50 underlies the arm 3 L of the rod 27 which connected to the switch cam 26 so that when the rod 27 is rotated by the move ment of the switch cam during the restora tion of the shuttle feeler to normal position the arm 34, which is depressed thereby, will engage and depress the detent-releasing lever 50 until its effect end 52 engages the arm 53 of the detent lever and rocks the latter about its pivot 46 until. the notched end. 4:7 thereof is disengaged from the heel of the cutter. Upon the release of the detent from such engagement the spring42 will force thecutter into operative position so that the heel thereof will lie in the field of movement of .the lay and will be reciprocated by the lay upon each beat-up thereof.

One of the essential features of the present invention includes means for positively locking the detent in released position during a predetermined number of reciprocations of the cutter with means operable thereafter to permit the detent again to enthe heel of the cutter and thereby render the cutter inoperative. In the em bodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings the detent-releasing lever has an arm 54 extending downwardly from the pivot 51 and provided with an arcuate end 56 which is adapted to engage a complementary arcuate face 57 in the cylindrical barrel 58 of a rotatable timing device 59 which is pivotally mounted upon a stud 60 extending from the plate 49. A helical spring 61 surrounding the stud 60 and anchored at one end to the stud 60 and at its opposite end engaging the timing device 59 tends to rotate the timing device in a clockwise direction. \Vhen, however, the concave face of the timing device is engaged by the convex end. 56 of the extension 54 ot'. the detent-releasing lever, rotation of the timing device will be prevented. Such engagement is provided when the detent-rcleasing lever is in its normal position illustrated in Fig. 1.. lVhen the detent-releasing lever is depressed to release the detent. the end 56 of the arm 5 .1: will be swung out of engagement with the concave face in the timing device so that the latter will be rotated by the action of the spring in a clockwise direction and the side 62 of thearm 54 of said. releasing lever will then engage the cylindrical surface of the barrel of the timing device, thus holding the detent-releasing lever 50 in detent-releasing position and also thereby retaining the detent out of possible engagement with the shoulder 44 upon the heel of the cutter during the cutting movements of the latter.

Any suitable mechanism may be provided for rotating the timing device in a countenclockwise direction to unlock the detentreleasing lever. In the preferred construction an annular ratchet 63 is mounted in a peripheral recess in the tin'iing device 59 and is adjustably clamped in such recess by screws 64 and spring washers 65. By reason of this construction the ratchet may be adjusted rotarily in such, a manner as to provide means for unlocking the detent-rcleasing device after the cutter has made a predetermined number of reciprocations. The means for actuating the rotary timing device 59 through its annular 'atchet 63 comprises an actuating pawl (36 which pivotally mounted upon a pawl-carrying lever 67 which is pivotally mounted 'upon a stud 68 projecting from an upwardly extending arm upon the detent-releasing lever 50. The pawl actuating lever has an enlarged flat lower end. portion 69 which extends through a suitable slot forming a. guideway in an angular extension 70 of the lower end of the plate 49. The lower end of the pawl-carrying lever 67 is bent at right angles and has secured to it an offset portion 71 which lies in the path of the heel 41 of the movable temple thread cutter so that when the heel of the cutter is moved by the lay it will engage said otlset end 71 of the pawl-carrying arm and swing it about its pivot, thus causing the pawl to rotate the ratchet 63 of the timing device in a couliter-clockwise direction. A predetermined number of such actuations of the ratchet will rotate the timing device un til the arcuate end 56 of the arm 54 of the detent-releasing lever will be permitted to slide over and engage the arcuate face 57 upon the barrel or the timing device, thereby enabling the spring L8 to restore the detent-releasing lever to its normal position as shown in Fig. 1, thereby also releasing the detent so that upon the next beat-up of the cutter the notched end 47 of the detent will again engage the shoulder 44 upon the heel of the cutter and retain the cutter in inoperative position.

Retrograde rotation of the ratchet during its actuation by the pawl 66 is prevented by a dog 72 which is pivotally mounted upon the pivot- 51 of the detent-releasing lever and normally engages the teeth of the ratchet. The dog 72 is provided with a laterally extending lug 73 which lies in the path of the front edge 74; of the arm 5 1- of the detent-releasing lever so that when the detent-releasing lever is forced clownwardly by the arm 34 of the switch cam shaft sufficiently to engage and release the detent l5 from the heel of the cutter the dog 72 will be forced out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 63, thereby permitting the ratchet to rotate in a clockwise direction under the influence of its spring. The pawl 66 is also disengaged from the teeth of the ratchet 63 by the downward movement of the detent-releasing lever 50 by the engagement of said lever with a tail 75 upon the dog which projects into the path of the detent-releasing lever. Both the dog and the pawl may be held conveniently in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet by a spiral spring connecting them as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The pawl-actuating lever is restored to normal position upon release of the locking mechanism of the timing device by a spring '76 which is connected at one end to the plate ell) and at its opposite end to an extension upon the pawl-carrying lever.

'lhe ratchet 63 is provided with a radially extending lug 77 which engages the cal of the pawl 72 and arrests the rotation of the timing device in the position illustrated in Figs, 3 and 7. The movement of the pawl-actuating lever by the offset end 34 of the switch cam shaft to release the detent 45 from engagement with the heel of the cutter is sufficient to carry the offset end 5t of the detent-releasing lever a short distance beyond the cylindrical barrel 58 of the timing device as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 7. Upon return of the ofiset end 34; of the switch cam shaft 27 to normal position after transfer the detent-rcleasing lever 50 will be raised by the spring 76 upwardly until the offset arm 54 of the detcnt-releasing lever engages the cylindrical barrel 58 of the timing device, thereby locking the lever in detent-releasing position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 7 and restoring the pawl 66 and dog 72 into ongagement. with the teeth of the ratchet 63. The cylindrical barrel 58 of the timing device will then retain the detent-releasing arm in releasing position and the detent 45 out of engagement with the shoulder 44L upon the heel of the cutting blade until the timing device has rotated sufficiently to bring the arcuate end 56 of the extension of the detent-releasing lever into registry in h the co-operating concave arcuate surface 57 of the timing device as heretofore described. The detent-releasing lever is limited in its upward movement by a lug 7 8 extending laterally from the plate 49 and may be formed thereupon by bending an extension of the sheet metal plate. This slight upward movement of the detent-releasing lever is sutlicient to restore the dog 72 and pawl 66 into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 63 of the timing device so that said ratchet will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction by the engagement of the end 71 of the pawl-carrying lever with the heel of the reciprocating cutter in the manner above described.

By virtue of this construction, therefore, the detent 4E5 is released from its engagement with the heel of the cutter by the movement of the switch cam of the shuttle feeler thread cutter during the return of the shuttle feeler to normal position after transfer. The detent when thus released is positively locked in released position by the timing device which engages the detent-releasing lever and retains it in releasing position. The timing device is then rotated through the pawl-actuating lever and pawl 66 a predetermined number of times by full cutting reciprocations of the cutter which will bring the concave face of the timing device into registry with the convex end 56 of the pawl-releasing lever as above described, whereupon the ]')awl-releasing lever will be instantly returned-to its nori'ual position illustrated in Fig. 2 and will lock the timing device posianism can be constructed by merely provid ing an extended shaft for the switch cam with a suitably offset end to overlie the detent-releasing lever.

It will be understood that the particular embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is of an illustrative character and is not restrictive oi the invention as defined and that various changes may be made in construction, form and arrangement of parts within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an automatic filling replenishing loom having a shuttle feeler, a thread cutter carried thereby, a switch-cam for actuating said shuttle thread cutter, a thread parting device for severing the filling ends at the selvage of the web of cloth, means tending to place said thread parting device in operative position, means for retaining said thread cutting device in inoperative position during the normal operation of the loom and means operable by said switchcam, during the restoration of the shuttle 'l'eeler to normal position after replenishment, to release said retaining means and means for actuating said thread parting means when it is in operative position.

2. In an automatic filling replenishing loom having a shuttle feeler, a thread cutter carried thereby, a switch-cam for actuating said shuttle thread cutter, a thread parting device for severing the filling ends at the selvage of the web of cloth, means tending to place said thread parting device in opere ative position, means for retaining said thread cutting device in inoperative position during the normal operation of the loom and means operable by said switch-cam, during the restoration of the shuttle feeler to normal position after replenishment, to release said retaining means, means for actuating said thread parting means when it is in operative position and means operable by the movement of the thread parting means, upon completion of a predetermined number oi? full cutting movements thereof, to cause re-engagement of said retaining means there with.

3. In a filling replenishing loom comprising a shuttle feeler, a thread cutter carried thereby, a switch-cam for actuating said thread cutter, a temple, a reciprocable cutter carried by said temple having a heel adapted, when the cutter is in operative position, to be engaged by the lay, means tending to place said blade in operative position, a detent normally holding said cutter in inoperative position with said heel out of the field of movement of the lay, a detentreleasing lever, means operable by the movement of the switch-cam for actuating said detent-releasing lever, a spring actuated timing device operable upon actuation of said detent-releasing lever to lock-said lever and detent in released position andmeans operable by a predetermined number of full reciprocations of said temple thread cutter to rotate said timing device out of locking rela tion to said detent-actuating lever, where by said detent will again engage said temple thread cutter and hold it in inoperative position.

l. In an automatic filling replenishing loom having a shuttle 'feeler, a thread cutter carried thereby, a switch-cam for actuating said cutter, a temple, a thread cutter reciprocably mounted thereon having a heel extending, when said cutter is in operative position, into the path of the lay, means tending to place said cutter in operative position, a spring actuated detent normally engaging said cutter and holding it in inoperative position, means operable by the movement or said switclrcam to actuate said detent-releasing lever, a rotary spring actuated timing device having means operable when rotated by its spring to lock said detent-releasing lever and detent in released position, means operable by the reciprocation of said cutter to rotate said timing device intermittently against the action of its spring and co-operating means upon said detent-releasing lever and said timing device operable upon a predetermined number of reciprocating movements of the cutterto unlock said detent-releasing lever and to retain said timing device in unlocking position thereby permitting said detent to engage said cutter.

5. In a filling replenishing loom comprising transferring mechanism, a temple, a thread cutter carried thereby having a heel extending, when said cutter is in operative position, into the path of the lay, a spring actuated detent engaging the heel. of said cutter and normally holding said cutter in inoperative position, a detent-releasing lever, a rotatable spring actuated timing device having means engaged by said detent-releasing lever when in normal position acting to prevent rotation of said timing device and means engaging said lever when moved to detent-releasing position operable to lock said lever and detent in released position, means operable in conjunction with the operation oi"- the transferring mechanism to actuate said releasing lever and means operable by the reciprocation of said cutter to rotate said timing device against the action of its spring and therebyto unlock said detent-releasing device and permit the detent again to engage the heel of said cutter.

G. In a filling replenishing loom comprising transferring mechanisn'i, a temple, a thread cutter carried thereby having a heel ext-ending, when said cutter is in operative position, into the path of the lay, a spring l l]; ii

actuated detent engaging the heel of said cutter norn'ially holding said cutter in inoperative position, a detent-releasing lever, a rotatable spring actuated timing device having a concave face adapted to be engaged by said detent-releasing lever when in normal position and when so engaged acting to prevent rotation of said timing device, and having a cylindrical portion to engage said lever when moved to detent-releasing position acting to lock said lever and detent in released position, means operable in conjuno tion with the operation of the transferring mechanism to actuate said releasing lever and means operable by the reciprocation of said cutter to rotate said timing devie against the action of its spring and to re store said releasing lever into engagement with said concave face.

7. In a filling replenishing loom con'iprising transferring mechanism, a temple, a reciprocating thread cutter carried thereby having a heel extending, when said cutter is in operative position, into the path of the lay, a spring actuated detent engaging the heel of said cutter and normally holding said cutter in inoperative position, a plate mounted upon the temple head, a detent-releasing lever pivotally mounted upon said plat-e operable when actuated to release said detent, a spring actuated rotatable timing device mounted upon said plate having a cylindrical barrel to engage and lock said detentreleasing lever in detent-releasing position and recessed to present a concave face adapted when engaged by said detent-releasing lever when in its normal position to prevent rotation of said timing device, means operable in conjunction with the action of the transferring mechanism to actuate said detent-releasing lever and means operable by the reciprocating movements of the cutter to rotate said timing device against the action of its spring and upon completion of a predetermined number of full cutting movements to cause said releasing lever to ei'lgage said concave face, thereby instantly releasing said detent and permitting it to engage and hold said cutter in inoperative position.

8. In a filling replenishing loom comprising transferring mechanism, a temple, a thread cutter carried thereby havinga heel extending, when the cutter is in operative position, into the path of the lay, means tending to place said cutter in operative position, a spring actuated detent engaging the heel of said cutter and normally holding said cutter in inoperative position, a plate mounted upon the temple head, a detent-releasing lever pivotally mounted upon said plate operable when actuated to release said detent, a spring actuated rotatable timing device mounted on said plate and having a circular ratchetadjnstably secured thereto and a cy lindrical barrel to engage and lock said detent-releasing lever and detent in released position, said barrel being recessed to pre sent aconcave face adapted when engaged by said detent-releasing lever when in its normal position to prevent rotation of said timing device, means operable in conjunction with the action or" the transferring mechanism to actuate said detent-releasing lever, a lever pivotally mounted upon said detentrelcasing lever extending into the path of the heel of said cutter and provided with a pawl cooperating with said circular ratchet, whereby the reciprocation of said cutter will rotate said timing device and upon a predetermined number of reciprocations will cause said detent-rkalcasing lever to engage said concave :tace thereby releasing the detentand permitting it again to engage the heel of said cutter.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

EDWARD A. C'UNITIFFv 

